Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein in fetal neural tube and abdominal wall defects at 10 to 14 weeks of gestation

N J Sebire; K Spencer; P L Noble; K Hughes; K H Nicolaides

doi:10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb12034.x

Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein in fetal neural tube and abdominal wall defects at 10 to 14 weeks of gestation

Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1997 Jul;104(7):849-51. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb12034.x.

Authors

N J Sebire¹, K Spencer, P L Noble, K Hughes, K H Nicolaides

Affiliation

¹ Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, Kings College Hospital Medical School, London, UK.

PMID: 9236655
DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb12034.x

Abstract

Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein concentration was determined in nine pregnancies with fetal anencephaly, seven with exomphalos containing liver, two with spina bifida and 100 normal controls at 10 to 14 weeks of gestation. The median alpha-fetoprotein in the group with fetal anencephaly and exomphalos was significantly higher than in normal fetuses but the sensitivity of this test is likely to be only about 30% for a false positive rate of 5%.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Abdominal Muscles / abnormalities*
Anencephaly / blood*
Anencephaly / diagnosis
Female
Gestational Age
Hernia, Umbilical / blood*
Hernia, Umbilical / diagnosis
Humans
Neural Tube Defects / blood*
Neural Tube Defects / diagnosis
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Trimester, First
Prenatal Diagnosis / methods
Sensitivity and Specificity
alpha-Fetoproteins / metabolism*

Substances

alpha-Fetoproteins